'Attack mode' won't help cut delays, boost service, officials say

Metra won't penalize the freight railroads that operate four of its busiest lines for chronic delays and other service meltdowns, because it's vital to maintain friendly partnerships, officials said Friday.

The best approach to ensure that the BNSF Railway Co. and the Union Pacific Railroad provide good customer service and on-time performance is to "work together in harmony," Metra Executive Director Don Orseno said.

The message was seconded by the rail line's chairman, Martin Oberman, who said it was better to have good relationships and not be in "attack mode" with the two railroads that operate the BNSF and three UP lines and also own the tracks on which those trains run.

"The public … wants us to hold people accountable, but you don't just start penalizing people," Oberman said. "I think you work with people toward constructive solutions."

Last week, a Regional Transportation Authority review of Metra's performance during the winter concluded that the commuter rail agency should seek greater accountability from the two freight railroads. Rather than impose penalties, as some suggested, Metra should provide incentives for the freight railroads to help ensure this, the RTA said.

This winter's brutal cold and repeated snowstorms brought the issue of Metra service to the fore for all of Metra's customers, who were confronted with frequent delays, canceled trains and standing-room-only coaches when equipment was knocked out of service.

Even many longtime riders were unaware that Metra's primary lines — the BNSF and the UP North, West and Northwest — are operated under contract by the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads, and not by Metra itself. Their conductors wear Metra uniforms but are not Metra employees. Those four lines account for more than half of Metra's 81 million annual passengers.

Metra expects to pay the railroads about $125 million this year to operate the lines. But the contracts do not hold the railroads to specific performance standards, officials said. So the railroads face no penalties if they fail to achieve Metra's goal of 95 percent on-time service or cancel trains.

During peak service periods in January, overall performance on all 11 Metra lines averaged 81.4 percent, but the BNSF's was 73.1 percent. The UP's trains were among the better performers, averaging 84.2 percent for the three lines, according to Metra data.

February numbers improved. Overall peak-period on-time performance was 87.1 percent; the BNSF ran at 81.9 percent and the three UP lines were 87.7 percent, the data showed.

Oberman said Metra was fortunate that the BNSF and Union Pacific operate the commuter lines, even as other passenger lines like the Rock Island have long gone out of business.

"Sometimes when we want (to make) improvements, we're in the position of asking for it, not demanding it," Oberman said. "That's just the way the system's set up."

Metra officials, meanwhile, also said they would study the possibility of installing cameras at some grade crossings to discourage motorists and pedestrians from disobeying train warning signals and gates.

Board members raised concerns after a series of fatal accidents in January and February, and wondered if cameras could be a deterrent such as red light cameras for speeding.

"If we can protect people from their own foolishness, and cut down on fatalities and injuries and accidents, I think it would greatly benefit our operations," Oberman said.